Rogers' 10* NCAA TOTAL MASSACRE >> 67% with ALL NCAA Totals YTD!
(NCAAB) Notre Dame vs. Louisville,
Total: 146.00 | -110.00 Under
Result: Loss
The set-up: No. 19 Notre Dame and No. 8 Louisville are both 23-7 but it's the Fighting Irish (at 12-5) who sit one game back of the 13-4 first-place Tar Heels in the ACC. The Cardinals are 11-6, along with Duke and Florida State. Notre Dame has won the last three meetings between the former Big East rivals, including a 77-70 win on Jan. 4 in South Bend that gave Louisville its first 0-2 start in conference play since 1991-92.

Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish made it to the Sweet 16 last season and Mike Brey's team believes it has another NCAA run in them. PG Jackson (15.8-3.5-4.7) and the 6-10 Auguste (14.0 & 10.7) are gone from last year's team but the following "Core Four" have led Notre Dame all season. The 6-5 Colson is a small forward who leads in scoring (16.9) and rebounding (10.1), joined by the 6-8 Beachem (15.4 & 3.8) plus guards Farrell (14.3 & 5.4 APG) and Vasturia (13.6). Notre Dame shoots well and can score, averaging 79.0 PPG. It leads the nation in FT percentage (81.0) and is on track to break the ACC single-season record for free-throw percentage (North Carolina State, 79.9% in 2004) and within reach of the NCAA mark (Harvard, 82.2% in 1984).

Louisville: Rick Pitino teams always play good defense and this year's group is no exception. The Cardinals allow just 65.4 PPG (39th) on 39.4% shooting (13th). However, Louisville can score as well, averaging 77.8 PPG on the season and here at home, where they are 15-1, Louisville averages 81.9 PPG. Guards Mitchell (15.8 & 4.7) and Snider (12.5 & 4.0 APG) plus 6-7 swingman Adel (11.8 & 4.5) are the team's double digit scorers.

The pick: There are all kinds of scenarios that end with some combination of Notre Dame, Louisville, Florida State or Duke being the No. 2-5 seeds in the upcoming ACC Tournament. However, essentially, it's Louisville and Notre Dame playing on Saturday to avoid not having to play next Wednesday. The top four seeds in the league each get a double bye. Without that, a team would have to win four games in four days to capture the ACC Tourney. Louisville fans are having a "Red Out" Saturday and will be wearing red to honor seniors Mathiang, Levitch and Hicks. As noted, Louisville scores well at home (see above) and I believe Notre Dame will love a high scoring game. The over is a 10* play.